Review: Samsung Blast

The Blast is the smallest in T-Mobile's armada of messaging phones. Does Samsung manage to make a big impact or is this a dud? With video review.

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If there's one type of person T-Mobile seems pay more attention to than any other national carrier, it's the texter - the oft-ignored user who constantly sends messages of all types but never touches a corporate email account. The Blast is yet another weapon in T-Mobile's vast arsenal for these people.

The phone does not come with a USB cable or memory card. I bought a Kingston 2G micro SD memory card and reader. However, the phone inconsistently reads the card. The files appear initially and I may be able to listen to a song, but the next thing I know it says the memory card is empty. If I turn the phone off and turn it back on, the files re-appear on the memory card. Do I have the wrong type of card or is there something wrong with this phone? It also froze up when playing music from the memory card. I really like the design of the phone, but it has been frustrating me when it comes to trying to use the memory card.

I'm not a very technical type of guy. I primarily use my cellular phone as a cellular phone. I do moderate text messaging, I rarely exceed my 400/mo limit, and I don't have much opportunity to listen to personal music devices.

Currently, I have the MotoRazr V3 (basic model) and have had it for two years. The only problem I've ever had with it is the dust particles that get trapped in the screen and make it completely impossible to view in direct light (I've had it replaced twice). Now that I've decided it's time for an upgrade, I'm considering a slider. I figure the Rizr would have about the same functionality as the Razr, and was just about set on that when I saw the fuss over the Samsung Blast. It's definitely sexier than...(continues)

1. Like all other T-Mobile Samsungs, I am pretty sure I verified (while at a store) that this model does not allow you to use downloaded sounds for text alerts. The included message alerts are all childish and annoying.

2. You can't escape t-mobile's SMS-based IM system because of their infamous java-blocking. Otherwise you could install an internet-based Java messenger.

the t9 on it is pretty advanced. not only does it learn words but it also quickly learns which words you type most often and will offer to complete them for you. for example, the first time we used the Blast, we immediately gave it the phone scoop tes...(continues)

"However making calls works slightly differently, at least from the home screen, because of the MyFaves application. Instead of the green send key opening up a list of recent calls, it dials the person currently in front on the MyFaves application."

The Blast has a new myfaves feature that allows you to minimize the myfaves by pressing the disconnect key and they will reappear by pressing the ok key. When they are minimized, the green send key DOES bring up the recent calls list.